The plea agreement caps Lewis' maximum sentence at 30 years in prison. The exact sentence will be imposed by Circuit Judge Hale Stancil during a hearing on Oct. 18.

Until then, Lewis will remain in custody at the Marion County Jail.

At the next court date, the defense will present mitigating evidence arguing for a much shorter prison term.

When Marion County deputies arrived at the residence, in the 3000 block of 174th Court, they found Daniel Lewis on the bathroom floor with a bloody fillet-type knife nearby. He told authorities his wife had stabbed him.

"She only nicked me a couple of times," he told authorities before falling unconscious, according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report.

The victim was taken by helicopter to UF Health Shands Hospital and was later pronounced dead. He was 52. Hospital personnel identified his stab wounds: three to his upper left arm, one to his upper back, and one to the upper chest.

According to the State Attorney's Office, Lewis bled to death.

Deputies found large amounts of blood in the laundry room, hallway and bathroom of the residence.

The day before the stabbing, the pair attended a family party where witness Tammy Leslie, 49, said the defendant had several drinks, threw a beer can at family members and became verbally abusive. The pair ended up leaving the party as a result of her behavior, Leslie said.

The defendant's daughter, Monica Howard, 33, told authorities she had seen her mother physically abuse the victim in the past.

When asked by Stancil on Tuesday why she committed the crime, Lewis was at a loss. "I don't really know," she said, her voice wavering. "I don't know what happened."

Lewis said the couple was drinking at the time of the incident.

In court, Lewis denied ever being treated for any mental illness, although she is currently taking medication for depression.

<p>An Ocklawaha woman who apologized to a 911 operator after she allegedly stabbed her husband five times entered a "best interest" guilty plea to second-degree murder Tuesday afternoon.</p><p>Sherry Wilson Lewis, 50, called 911 on Sept. 12, 2012 and told the operator "I stabbed my husband," "I hurt him" and "I'm sorry," officials said.</p><p>The plea agreement caps Lewis' maximum sentence at 30 years in prison. The exact sentence will be imposed by Circuit Judge Hale Stancil during a hearing on Oct. 18.</p><p>Until then, Lewis will remain in custody at the Marion County Jail.</p><p>At the next court date, the defense will present mitigating evidence arguing for a much shorter prison term.</p><p>When Marion County deputies arrived at the residence, in the 3000 block of 174th Court, they found Daniel Lewis on the bathroom floor with a bloody fillet-type knife nearby. He told authorities his wife had stabbed him.</p><p>"She only nicked me a couple of times," he told authorities before falling unconscious, according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report.</p><p>The victim was taken by helicopter to UF Health Shands Hospital and was later pronounced dead. He was 52. Hospital personnel identified his stab wounds: three to his upper left arm, one to his upper back, and one to the upper chest.</p><p>According to the State Attorney's Office, Lewis bled to death.</p><p>Deputies found large amounts of blood in the laundry room, hallway and bathroom of the residence.</p><p>The day before the stabbing, the pair attended a family party where witness Tammy Leslie, 49, said the defendant had several drinks, threw a beer can at family members and became verbally abusive. The pair ended up leaving the party as a result of her behavior, Leslie said.</p><p>The defendant's daughter, Monica Howard, 33, told authorities she had seen her mother physically abuse the victim in the past.</p><p>When asked by Stancil on Tuesday why she committed the crime, Lewis was at a loss. "I don't really know," she said, her voice wavering. "I don't know what happened."</p><p>Lewis said the couple was drinking at the time of the incident.</p><p>In court, Lewis denied ever being treated for any mental illness, although she is currently taking medication for depression.</p><p><i>Contact April Warren at 867-4065 or april.warren@ocala.com.</i></p>